News

Suspension bridge spanning Namhangang River will be open next month

2025/04/29 10:00

If you're looking to take in all the spring warmth a little further away from the capital but closer to the nature, down in Yeoju city, a suspension bridge spanning Namhangang River is set to open this Thursday. Cha Yun-kyung has more. The spring river breeze brings a pleasurable feeling to tourists. A suspension bridge spanning the Namhangang River boasts of grand and beautiful features. This is the first suspension bridge over the Hangang River with a length of 5-hundred-15 meters and an average height of 30 meters, providing magnificent panoramic views of the River. "We are shivering since it is very high up here, and I think it is a great place to visit with the family since it has beautiful landscapes." Visitors can experience the thrill of looking through the bridge's glass floor where people can view the river and at the "media glass," which looks like it is breaking when people step on it. There is a special zone at the center of the bridge where a person can propose to their loved one. People can also find an elevator for transportation of the disabled and elderly. "It is great for both adults and children to walk around here on the suspension bridge since it is not steep, is fun, and has wonderful views." Around the suspension bridge, tourists can explore the thousand-year-old Silleuksa Temple and Geumun Morae Camping, adding more things to see and enjoy. "We declare the year of 2025 as the first Visit Yeoju year with the completion of the suspension bridge. We are planning to make Yeoju a brand new city by attracting more than 6-million tourists." Based on the opening of the Yeoju Ceramic Festival, the suspension bridge will officially open on the first day of next month after final safety inspections are carried out by the end of April. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

K-Royal Culture Festival: Experiencing the splendid royal culture of the Joseon Dynasty

2025/04/29 10:00

It's K-Royal Culture week here in Seoul this week. Palaces across Seoul are wide open for anyone in the city to experience what it was like to live the royal life of the centuries-old Joseon Dynasty. Our Choi Soo-hyung takes us there. As the guards begin their shift with the sound of drums signalling the start of morning, a new day at Gyeongbokgung Palace starts. This year's K-Royal Culture Festival, which started on Saturday is taking place at Seoul's five major palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung, as well as at Jongmyo Shrine. Visitors can join a program where they experience royal life from the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from the late 14th century to the turn of the 20th century. One highlight is "Time Travel with King Sejong," where visitors can experience important moments from King Sejong’s life, such as the creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and other historical achievements. "The biggest feature of this year's festival is that visitors can do more than just watch, they can actually participate." Visitors can act as royal palace apprentices, making royal desserts and trying out royal dances. And they can experience daily life as it was about 500 years ago. "My friend invited me to join the program. The weather was so great, and when I tried it myself, it was easy and so much fun for anyone to enjoy." This year is the 11th edition of the festival. Last year, more than 960-thousand people visited the event making it one of Seoul's most visited festivals. The Korea Heritage Service created a variety of programs that match current trends, different age groups, and even special programs for foreigners. "Last year, we focused mainly on performances showing daily life. This year, we wanted to give the audience a chance to join in and interact before the show starts. We also encouraged foreigners to participate, focusing more on hands-on experiences rather than just delivering lines." In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can enjoy traditional crafts and goods. At Deoksugung Palace, near Seoul City Hall, there is a special program for foreigners called "The Emperor’s Table." Visitors can taste traditional royal food from the Korean Empire period and hear stories about the food and about Korean history in English. This year, there is a special program called "Spring Day at Gyeonghoeru" to celebrate the country's 80th anniversary of liberation. Independence heroes and their families have been invited to special performances at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace. The festival will continue until May 4th at the five palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

U.S. Treasury Secretary expresses optimism over talks with S. Korea

2025/04/29 10:00

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday shared his optimism with regard to trade talks with South Korea. Speaking to CNBC, Bessent stressed that negotiations with Seoul have been going "very well," adding that Washington has had very substantive negotiations with Tokyo. The comments come after Seoul and Washington took part in the two-plus-two ministerial trade talks in the U.S. capital last week. However, the treasury secretary did not elaborate what was discussed between the two allies.

Experts analyze N. Korea's strategic move in acknowledging troop deployment to Russia

2025/04/28 20:00

North Korea's confirmation of active combat duty by its soldiers in support of Russia has left pundits pondering over the purpose of this public announcement. Kim Jung-sil spoke to a few of them. Just days after Russia confirmed North Korea's involvement, Pyongyang made its own public acknowledgment. Experts say the move aligns with Moscow's victory narrative in recapturing the Kursk region and signals stronger ties between the two. "Since President Putin publicly acknowledged the deployment on the 26th, this revelation from North Korea seems to have been made in coordination with Russia." According to experts, Moscow and Pyongyang likely coordinated their messages to maximize their diplomatic impact. With Russia declaring victory in Kursk, North Korea strategically positioned itself as a key player in this ongoing conflict — both militarily and diplomatically. "North Korea is emphasizing its contribution to the victory, and by framing its involvement as a legitimate defensive action under the North Korea-Russia treaty, it is reinforcing its diplomatic standing and legitimacy." The regime has also seized this moment to publicly address the deaths of North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia—a detail previously withheld from the public since their deployment last year. "North Korea has been educating its people about the deployment, and, by promising compensation on a national scale, it seems to believe that any potential backlash can be effectively addressed." Experts suggest Monday's announcement could also set the stage for a summit between Putin and Kim, ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebration next month. However, they note that North Korea may prefer a bilateral meeting to avoid Kim being one of many leaders at a multilateral event. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Ukraine conflict reaches critical point, Trump’s last proposal faces rejection

2025/04/28 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The Ukraine war seems to be showing no sign of ending. U.S. President Donald Trump, who once promised to stop the fighting within a day of taking office, is now closing in on 100 days with little real progress. His latest peace plan, asking Ukraine to give up Crimea, has been flatly rejected by Kyiv. On the ground, Russia is pushing harder, claiming new victories, and even admitting North Korean troops are fighting alongside them. At the same time, Ukraine's resistance is showing signs of strain. Despite a brief meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at Pope Francis' funeral, deep gaps remain. With diplomacy stalling and the battlefield growing even bloodier, the prospects for a ceasefire seem uncertain, so at this point, is there still room for a breakthrough, or could the situation worsen moving forward? For more on this, we invite Min Jeong-hun, Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy, here in the studio. Welcome. Also, joining us from Australia is Dr. Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Great to have you. 1. (Min) Let's start with Prof. Min. President Trump, presented a final mediation proposal last week that effectively requires Ukraine to cede territory — specifically Crimea. 2. (Davis) Now to Dr. Davis. Despite Ukraine's strong opposition to the final proposal, President Trump stated in a media interview that "the fact Russia is not occupying all of Ukraine is already a major concession." Why is the U.S. putting forward statements that seem to be in favor of Russia? 3. (Min) In addition to this, Trump is pressuring Ukraine by warning that if no agreement is reached, the U.S. will completely withdraw from mediating the war. 4. (Davis) At the same time, President Trump has hinted at the possibility of imposing banking-related sanctions and secondary sanctions on Russia, which continues its offensives in Ukraine. Amid criticism that the negotiation process is leaning toward Russia, do you think this move could be seen as an attempt to maintain balance, Dr. Davis? 5. (Min) During the funeral of Pope Francis, President Trump and President Zelenskyy held a brief meeting — their first encounter since the failed White House talks. 6. (Davis) Meanwhile, Russian media reports claim that Russia has fully regained control over the key battleground of Kursk. Ukraine has denied these reports, calling them untrue. Dr. Davis, if Russia's claim about retaking Kursk turns out to be accurate, how might this shift the dynamics of the ceasefire negotiations? 7. (Min) Russia and North Korea officially acknowledged for the first time that North Korean forces have participated in the fighting. 8. (Davis) Latest reports say that President Putin told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Russia on the 25th, that Russia is ready to engage in peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions. Dr. Davis, what is the likelihood of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine happening, and what variables could impact that? 9. (Min) President Trump had repeatedly vowed during his presidential campaign to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. Yet negotiations still remain stalled.

Stock

2025/04/28 20:00

2025. 4. 28. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,548.86 ▲2.56 +0.10% KOSDAQ : 719.41 ▼10.28 -1.41% KOSPI200 : 337.08 ▲0.21 +0.06% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 35,839.99 ▲134.25 +0.38% HANG SENG : 21,971.96 ▼8.78 -0.04% SHANGHAI : 3,288.42 ▼6.65 -0.20% WALL STREET (April 25) DOW JONES : 40,113.50 ▲20.10 +0.05% NASDAQ : 17,382.94 ▲216.90 +1.26% S&P500 : 5,525.21 ▲40.44 +0.74% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,442.60 (+6.10) JPY : 1,004.07 (+4.17) CNY : 197.65 (+0.49) EUR : 1,639.80 (+10.52)

[Weather] Feeling warm across the country, the atmosphere is drying up

2025/04/28 20:00

The sun is shining across the country today. The temperatures will stay very similar to the average for this time of year throughout the week. However, it will only be 8 degrees Celsius in Seoul tomorrow morning feeling a bit chilly. The daytime temperature on Wednesday will then rise to 25 degrees, as hot as early summer. With sunny weather, the atmosphere is drying up. Currently, dry weather advisories have been expanded to some western regions including Seoul. In addition, dry weather warnings are in place in the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow morning, many areas will start off in the single digits with Daejeon at 5 degrees, and Gyeongju at 6 degrees. Daily highs will move up to as warm as 20 degrees across the country. There is more rain forecast all over the country from Thursday afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Sports Round-up] Lee Jung-hoo extends latest hitting streak to five matches

2025/04/28 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us in the studio is our sports editor, Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's begin with baseball. Lee Jung-hoo's hitting streak continues. Yes, to five matches now. The latest came on Sunday, local time, in the San Francisco Giants' 3-2 home win over the Texas Rangers. Lee Jung-hoo batted 1-for-4 and recorded an assist from center field. He has now gone on hitting streaks of at least five games on three occasions this season, his longest being eight. The assist, meanwhile, came in the top of the fourth inning when he threw out Jonah Heim at second base. The San Francisco Giants sit first in the National League West following 19 wins. In other news, Yonhap reports that Choi Ji-man will enlist in the military this May. Reports suggest that the 34-year-old will serve as a social service worker for one year and nine months and will be able to sign for a KBO club from the start of the 2027 season. The first baseman has played for the LA Angels, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays. Moving on to golf. Kim Hyo-joo came very close to winning the first LPGA major of the season. Yes, very close. In fact, it came down to a five-way playoff. Kim Hyo-joo on Sunday at the LPGA Chevron Championship in Texas, finished at 7-under par. Mao Saigo of Japan finished as the winner. Kim and Saigo, as well as Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, Yin Ruoning of China, and Lindy Duncan of the United States, all went into what was the first five-way playoff in LPGA major history. Kim finished second, but there were four South Koreans in the top 10. Ryu Hae-ran and Ko Jin-young finished tied for sixth, and Choi Hye-jin finished tied for ninth. And finally, to football. Liverpool are the champions of England. Yes, Liverpool sealed the Premier League title on Sunday. It came following a 5-1 win at home over a Tottenham Hotspur side that was without Son Heung-min. It was Liverpool's second of the Premier League era, and first with fans in the stands, as their last came in 2020 during the pandemic when matches were played behind closed doors. It's also their record-equaling 20th top-flight title. It came with four matches still to play, with Liverpool 15 points ahead of Arsenal in second. Meanwhile, in Germany, Bayern Munich and Kim Min-jae are edging closer to winning the Bundesliga title. Bayern beat Mainz 3-0 on Sunday and sit eight points clear of Bayer Leverkusen with three games to go. A result away to RB Leipzig on Saturday, May 3rd would ensure a first Bundesliga medal for Kim Min-jae since joining Bayern, but his second in Europe, having also won Serie A in Italy with Napoli. Alright, thanks for that, Paul. See you next time. Thank you.

K-Royal Culture Festival: Experiencing the splendid royal culture of the Joseon Dynasty

2025/04/28 20:00

On the cultural front here in Seoul. Palaces across the capital city are offering visitors the chance to partake in practices of the past on the royal grounds. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. As the guards begin their shift with the sound of drums signalling the start of morning, a new day at Gyeongbokgung Palace starts. This year's K-Royal Culture Festival, which started on Saturday is taking place at Seoul's five major palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung, as well as at Jongmyo Shrine. Visitors can join a program where they experience royal life from the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from the late 14th century to the turn of the 20th century. One highlight is "Time Travel with King Sejong," where visitors can experience important moments from King Sejong's life, such as the creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and other historical achievements. "The biggest feature of this year's festival is that visitors can do more than just watch, they can actually participate." Visitors can act as royal palace apprentices, making royal desserts and trying out royal dances. And they can experience daily life as it was about 500 years ago. "My friend invited me to join the program. The weather was so great, and when I tried it myself, it was easy and so much fun for anyone to enjoy." This year is the 11th edition of the festival. Last year, more than 960-thousand people visited the event making it one of Seoul's most visited festivals. The Korea Heritage Service created a variety of programs that match current trends, different age groups, and even special programs for foreigners. "Last year, we focused mainly on performances showing daily life. This year, we wanted to give the audience a chance to join in and interact before the show starts. We also encouraged foreigners to participate, focusing more on hands-on experiences rather than just delivering lines." In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can enjoy traditional crafts and goods. At Deoksugung Palace, near Seoul City Hall, there is a special program for foreigners called "The Emperor's Table." Visitors can taste traditional royal food from the Korean Empire period and hear stories about the food and about Korean history in English. This year, there is a special program called "Spring Day at Gyeonghoeru" to celebrate the country's 80th anniversary of liberation. Independence heroes and their families have been invited to special performances at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace. The festival will continue until May 4th at the five palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Pope Francis' tomb opened to public; conclave to begin May 5-10

2025/04/28 20:00

Pope Francis' tomb was opened to the public on Sunday, and thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects. The late pope was laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome, with a single white rose placed on the tomb engraved only with his Latin name, "Franciscus." Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. Following his funeral on Saturday, the Vatican will now prepare for the conclave --the process to elect a new pope, which is expected to begin between May 5 and May 10.

S. Korea considering maritime research center, in response to Chinese structures in West Sea

2025/04/28 20:00

Amid concerns in Seoul over Chinese structures built in disputed waters of the West Sea, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has said the government is considering building a maritime research center in the area as a reciprocal measure. Cho told the parliament on Monday that the country is going through a comprehensive review of factors such as economic feasibility to determine the type of structure they would build. He added that they will continue to assess the situation while observing how China responds going forward. From 2018 until last year, China built three structures in the "Provisional Maritime Zone," where the two countries' exclusive economic zones overlap. China claimed the structures were built for fish-farming, but this led to concerns in Seoul that Beijing could possibly be seeking territorial rights in the area.

Trump's approval rating drops as he nears first 100 days back in office; tariff stance continues

2025/04/28 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is approaching his 100th day back in the Oval Office. Amid his strong, unpredictable push on tariff policies, several polls show that Trump's approval ratings have been dropping recently. Our Park Kun-woo has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push forward with his tariff policies, as he approaches 100 days back in office. On Sunday local time, Trump posted on social media that many people's income taxes will be "substantially reduced" or even "eliminated" when the tariffs take effect. He added numerous jobs and new factories are being created, also hinting at the External Revenue Service, which'll take charge of tariffs, is on its way. However, Trump's recent approval ratings have been in decline. A Washington Post poll conducted by Ipsos in April showed that just under 40 percent of American adults approve of Trump's job performance, while 55 percent disapprove. That's down from two months ago when 45 percent approved and 53 percent disapproved. And the result marks the lowest 100-day approval rating for any president, as most enjoy "honeymoons" early into their terms, despite eventual drops later in the first year. Regarding applying tariffs to imported goods, more than 6 in 10 say they disapprove of Trump's economic policy. A new CNN poll by SSRS also showed Trump's approval rating at 41 percent, the lowest for any newly elected president since Dwight Eisenhower, including Trump's own first term. The numbers were down by 4-percentage points from March and seven from February. Along with these results, Trump had previously announced a 90-day pause on imposing reciprocal tariffs on trading partners, which pundits say is part of his dealmaking strategy. "Trump loves dealmaking and the tariffs pauses, these deadlines they're all sort of part of that process. I think it's keeping pressure on the counterparties and perhaps giving local firms time to sort of plan where they source and manufacture their products." He added that given the Trump administration's unpredictability, Trump's next move will likely depend on who he's negotiating with if he doesn't get what he wants after the 90-day period. And with the temporary pause set to expire in July, attention is now turning to Trump's next steps. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

PPP's interim-chair calls DP's convention "coronation," amid PPP's fierce 4-way battle

2025/04/28 20:00

The People Power Party was quick to take sharp aim at its rival, as the party is in the process of electing its contender, with the second round of its primary voting results slated for tomorrow. Kim Do-yeon reports. The People Power Party took shots at its rival the Democratic Party of Korea on Monday, saying that its convention, where the party announced its presidential candidate, was nothing more than a coronation ceremony. "It was virtually a coronation for Lee Jae-myung, proving that the Democratic Party has become a one-man dictatorship under his leadership, with an overwhelming 89.77% of the vote. Some even said it already felt like a Democratic Party government would be in place in just 40 days." The comments came as the PPP's second round of voting by eligible PPP members continues throughout Monday until 10 PM. For this round, the final vote will be calculated by amalgamating 50-percent of this vote with 50-percent from an open public survey. The results of the voting will be announced on Tuesday, and if no one receives more than 50 percent of the final tally, there will be a run-off between the top two contenders, with the final results coming on May 3rd during the PPP's convention. The four contestants, Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Hong Joon-pyo and Han Dong-hoon, continued to promote their candidacy. Kim focused on media interviews and kept an "on-air campaign" doing 3 live interviews and a press briefing in one day. Ahn visited the Daejeon National Cemetery, before announcing his pledges for the Chungcheong-do provinces. Han visited the Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan City. As it's a place to honor the famous Admiral Yi Sun-shin, Han revealed his military and security pledges there. Hong visited the Korea Federation of SMEs to assess the state of the industry. Meanwhile Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's possible declaration of his candidacy, which started as speculation, seems to be emerging as a key variable in the PPP's presidential primary. Local reports confirmed the PM's chief of staff and three others resigned from their current posts, likely to prepare for the election. Among the four Kim Moon-soo is the only one so far who has welcomed the idea of Han running for the presidency. Ahn and Hong have openly criticized the idea, while Han Dong-hoon has so far refrained from a direct answer, saying he will focus on the primary. That said, the three did pledge to merge their camps with the acting president if he does run and if they win the primary. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung secures DP’s presidential nomination with landslide victory in primary

2025/04/28 20:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party has elected its party candidate for the presidential race. Lee Jae-myung officially kicked off his campaign with a move seen as an attempt to broaden his appeal to centrist and conservative voters. Shin Ha-young reports. "Lee Jae-myung has been confirmed as the DP's presidential nominee after winning 89-point-7-7 percent of the vote." No surprises, as expected. The Democratic Party wrapped up its presidential primaries on Sunday with a victory for former party leader Lee Jae-myung. In his acceptance speech, Lee blamed himself for losing in the last presidential election and vowed to win this time. "I will win and take back the government. I promise to build a new Korea, full of hope and energy, to repay your trust." According to the DP, Lee won the votes of over 90 percent of party members and delegates, and over 89 percent in a public poll of one million people. With both results weighted 50 percent each, he secured 89-point-7-7 percent of the total vote. It's the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates. Lee's two opponents Kim Dong-yeon, who came in second with 6-point-8-7 percent, and Kim Kyung-soo, who followed with 3-point-3-6 percent finished well behind. "Lee Jae-myung, who stayed as the front-runner throughout the primary, is now running for president as the Democratic Party's candidate for the second time, following his presidential bid in 2022." Lee kicked off his first day as a presidential candidate with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday morning. He paid tribute to former presidents, including those from the conservative side, seen as a move to emphasize unity and expand his appeal to centrist and conservative voters. "We must work to unite the country. While I am the DP's candidate, I will also do my best to become a candidate for all the people. I hope today's cemetery visit doesn't spark new conflict." In the afternoon, Lee held a meeting at SK hynix headquarters on AI memory semiconductors. Ahead of the meeting, he emphasized his goal of making South Korea the top semiconductor country and pledged to quickly pass a special act aimed at boosting the domestic semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, the DP plans to launch its election campaign committee on Wednesday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

North Korea confirms it deployed troops to Russia for first time

2025/04/28 17:00

In a surprise announcement on this Monday North Korea acknowledged its deployment of soldiers to the battlefield of Russia's war against Ukraine. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this announcement. North Korea confirmed for the first time that it has sent troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine. Citing the North's ruling party, the state news agency KCNA said Monday that the troop deployment was ordered by leader Kim Jong-un himself, who made the decision under the 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty,' which he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Article 4 of the treaty says North Korea and Russia "shall immediately provide military and other assistance" to the other party if it "falls into a state of war due to armed invasion from an individual or multiple states." Putin thanked the North Korean leader for deploying troops to Russia. Russia's Tass news agency reported Monday that Putin said he commends the North Korean soldiers' "heroism," adding that friendship and cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow will continue to grow. Meanwhile, the South Korean government criticized the North's deployment of troops, saying it threatens global security. "We strongly urge the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops. If the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia continues, we will not stand by idly and will respond firmly with the international community." Separately, the U.S. State Department also told Reuters that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and any support by Russia in return must end, adding that Russia had violated UN Security Council resolutions by training North Korean soldiers. North Korea's announcement comes after Russia on Saturday local time said that all Ukrainian troops were forced out of the western Russian region of Kursk, with the help of North Korean troops. "I would like to separately note the participation of the servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region, who provided significant assistance in the defeat of a group of Ukrainian armed forces." South Korea's intelligence agency in October of last year assessed that around 12-thousand North Korean troops had been deployed to the Kursk region. It also said in January that about 300 of them were killed in combat and another 2-thousand-700 were injured. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

[Weather] Warm weather continues, dry weather advisories in effect

2025/04/28 17:00

Warm spring weather with bright sunshine appeared all over the country. This week, the temperatures will be very similar to the average for this time of year. However, it will only be 8 degrees Celsius in Seoul tomorrow morning. Then the daytime temperature on Wednesday will rise to 25 degrees, so it will be as hot as early summer. As the sunny weather continues, the dryness of the atmosphere is getting worse. Currently, dry weather advisories have been expanded to some western areas including Seoul. In addition, dry weather warnings are in effect for the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow morning, many areas will start off at single digits with Gwangju and Daegu at 7 degrees. Daily highs will move up to as warm as 20 degrees across the country. Sunny weather will continue until Wednesday. There is rain forecast nationwide from Thursday afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Israel launches air strike on Beirut

2025/04/28 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Israel conducted an airstrike on Sunday targeting a Hezbollah facility in southern Beirut. The airstrike comes despite the ceasefire established in November 2024. It destroyed a building in the Dhiyeh suburb of Beirut, which the Israeli Defense Forces identified as a Hezbollah precision missile storage facility. No casualties have been reported. Before the strike, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents, advising them to maintain a distance of at least 300 meters from the site. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrike and called upon the United States and France, co-guarantors of the existing ceasefire agreement, to intervene and prevent further hostilities. Another Israeli airstrike earlier this month in Beirut's southern suburbs had killed four people, including a Hezbollah official. In Vancouver, Canada, a vehicle drove into a crowd at a festival celebrating Filipino heritage, killing at least 11 people. On Saturday, at approximately 8:14 PM local time, a black SUV entered a pedestrian-only area, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival, an annual celebration of Filipino culture, was taking place. The vehicle accelerated into the crowd, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than twenty others. The victims' ages ranged from five to 65, according to police. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver resident known to have mental health issues, was taken into custody after being detained by bystanders at the scene. Police stated that the suspect acted alone and there was no evidence suggesting acts of terrorism. India conducted long-range precision missile tests to demonstrate military readiness on Sunday, as tensions between India and Pakistan flared following a deadly militant attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir on April 22. India has since announced a series of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan, including suspending a key water-sharing treaty and closing borders. Pakistan responded by canceling Indian visas and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong warning on Saturday, stating that Pakistan would respond with full force if India decides to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. Finally, in Rome, the Vatican opened Pope Francis' tomb to the public on Sunday. The late pontiff, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, was laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore church, with a single white rose and a simple inscription of his name "Franciscus" on his stone tomb. The simplicity reflected his commitment to humility. Thousands of mourners visited the site, lining up to pay their respects. Following the funeral on Saturday, which drew approximately 250,000 attendees, the College of Cardinals began preparations for the papal conclave, which is expected to begin between May 5 and May 10. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Suspension bridge spanning Namhangang River will be open next month

2025/04/28 17:00

Yeoju's Namhangang suspension bridge is poised to officially open later this week not only to provide people with panoramic sights but also to offer those interested the opportunity to make new memories. Cha Yun-kyung has more. The spring river breeze brings a pleasurable feeling to tourists. A suspension bridge spanning the Namhangang River boasts of grand and beautiful features. This is the first suspension bridge over the Hangang River with a length of 5-hundred-15 meters and an average height of 30 meters, providing magnificent panoramic views of the River. "We are shivering since it is very high up here, and I think it is a great place to visit with the family since it has beautiful landscapes." Visitors can experience the thrill of looking through the bridge's glass floor where people can view the river and at the "media glass," which looks like it is breaking when people step on it. There is a special zone at the center of the bridge where a person can propose to their loved one. People can also find an elevator for transportation of the disabled and elderly. "It is great for both adults and children to walk around here on the suspension bridge since it is not steep, is fun, and has wonderful views." Around the suspension bridge, tourists can explore the thousand-year-old Silleuksa Temple and Geumun Morae Camping, adding more things to see and enjoy. "We declare the year of 2025 as the first Visit Yeoju year with the completion of the suspension bridge. We are planning to make Yeoju a brand new city by attracting more than 6-million tourists." Based on the opening of the Yeoju Ceramic Festival, the suspension bridge will officially open on the first day of next month after final safety inspections are carried out by the end of April. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

K-Royal Culture Festival: Experiencing the splendid royal culture of the Joseon Dynasty

2025/04/28 17:00

On the cultural front here in Seoul. Palaces across the capital city are offering visitors the chance to partake in practices of the past on the royal grounds. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. As the guards begin their shift with the sound of drums signalling the start of morning, a new day at Gyeongbokgung Palace starts. This year's K-Royal Culture Festival, which started on Saturday is taking place at Seoul's five major palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung, as well as at Jongmyo Shrine. Visitors can join a program where they experience royal life from the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from the late 14th century to the turn of the 20th century. One highlight is "Time Travel with King Sejong," where visitors can experience important moments from King Sejong's life, such as the creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and other historical achievements. "The biggest feature of this year's festival is that visitors can do more than just watch, they can actually participate." Visitors can act as royal palace apprentices, making royal desserts and trying out royal dances. And they can experience daily life as it was about 500 years ago. "My friend invited me to join the program. The weather was so great, and when I tried it myself, it was easy and so much fun for anyone to enjoy." This year is the 11th edition of the festival. Last year, more than 960-thousand people visited the event making it one of Seoul's most visited festivals. The Korea Heritage Service created a variety of programs that match current trends, different age groups, and even special programs for foreigners. "Last year, we focused mainly on performances showing daily life. This year, we wanted to give the audience a chance to join in and interact before the show starts. We also encouraged foreigners to participate, focusing more on hands-on experiences rather than just delivering lines." In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can enjoy traditional crafts and goods. At Deoksugung Palace, near Seoul City Hall, there is a special program for foreigners called "The Emperor's Table." Visitors can taste traditional royal food from the Korean Empire period and hear stories about the food and about Korean history in English. This year, there is a special program called "Spring Day at Gyeonghoeru" to celebrate the country's 80th anniversary of liberation. Independence heroes and their families have been invited to special performances at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace. The festival will continue until May 4th at the five palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S. can find "win-win" solutions through "cooperative negotiations" on tariffs, trade: Han

2025/04/28 17:00

Acting President Han Duck-soo has reaffirmed.. his confidence in cooperation.. rather than conflict with regard to South Korea's tariff and trade talks with the U.S. In an interview with The Economist that was published this past Sunday Han claimed a win-win solution is possible for Seoul and Washington through dialogue. He also highlighted the importance of American troop presence on the Korean peninsula in response to a question about the fate of U.S. soldiers in South Korea by the British outlet.